Ugandans held their first multi-party election for a quarter of a century on Thursday, but the opposition accused President Yoweri Museveni's government of fraud in its bid to extend his two-decade rule. As a predictable row erupted even before all polling booths had closed, the east African nation's ruling party dismissed the complaints as coming from "bad losers." From the shores of Lake Victoria to a remote war zone in the north, long queues of Ugandans braved alternate sun and downpours to vote in an election pitching Museveni against his former physician and main rival Kizza Besigye. ... http://abcnews.go.com

At least 49 people were killed and nearly 30 injured when the snow-covered roof of a market collapsed in Moscow, Russian officials say. Rescuers are searching for anyone trapped under rubble at the market in the eastern Bauman district. Some survivors have been heard knocking and crying for help, as well as using their mobile phones to guide rescuers. A criminal investigation is under way, but officials say a heavy snowfall overnight may have been a factor. A fire broke out at the collapse site in mid-afternoon, briefly hampering rescue efforts. Officials said it was caused by a spark from an electric saw. None of the trapped victims was thought to have been affected. Some 21,530 sq ft (2,000 sq m) of the roof of Basmanny market, one of Moscow's busiest food markets, collapsed at 0545 (0245 GMT). Traders were preparing for business on what is a national holiday in Russia. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4742134.stm

Christians in this southern Nigerian city burned Muslim corpses and defaced wrecked mosques Thursday, showing little repentance after days of sectarian violence that has killed more than 120 people across the country. Onitsha has borne the brunt, with at least 80 of the deaths. The violence followed weekend protests over the publication of cartoons of Muhammad, the Islamic prophet."We don't want these mosques here anymore. These people are causing all the problems all over the world because they don't fear God," said 34-year Ifeanyi Ese, standing amid the concrete rubble of an Onitsha mosque....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,185818,00.html

Seven U.S. soldiers were killed in two blasts when their vehicles hit homemade bombs north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the American military said. Four of the soldiers, all members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, died yesterday while on patrol near Hawijah, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Baghdad the military said today in an e-mailed statement. Three Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division were killed yesterday when their vehicle hit a bomb in Balad, about 25 km west of Hawijah, the military said in a separate statement today. No further details were available on either attack. ...http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a4fpQRSbM4DE&refer=home

President Bush on Thursday defended his administration's decision to allow a company from an Arab country to operate six major U.S. ports, saying, "People don't need to worry about security." "This deal wouldn't go forward if we were concerned about the security of the United States of America," Bush told reporters during a Cabinet meeting.Next month, the United Arab Emirates-based Dubai Ports World is set to finalize a $6.8 billion purchase of the British firm Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which manages the six U.S. ports, which include New York and Miami, Florida. (See where the ports are)The administration's blessing of its purchase by the state-owned UAE firm has triggered an avalanche of criticism on Capitol Hill. ...http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/23/port.security/index.html?section=cnn_us

A senior North Korean diplomat is expected to meet in New York next week with U.S. officials on the sanctions the administration has imposed on Pyongyang for alleged counterfeiting of U.S. dollars, a State Department official said Thursday.The official said that Li Gun, head of the North American division of the North Korean Foreign Ministry, is likely to meet with State and Treasury Department officials on March 4 at Pyongyang’s U.N. mission.Last year, the U.S. slapped restrictions on a Macao bank and North Korean companies that it said were involved in illicit activity, including counterfeiting, money laundering and funding weapons proliferation....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11521027/from/RSS/